Joseph of Aramathea requested the body of Jesus for burial. Pilate was surprised to hear Jesus was already dead. He sent for the centurion in charge of the execution. His question was simple, was Jesus dead? Pilate would not release the body until he knew, for sure, that there was no chance that Jesus was simply unconscious. He was not having an executed man released while still alive. When he found that Jesus was, in fact, dead, he released the body for burial.

The Jewish leaders had heard of Christ's promise to rise from the dead. They insisted that the tomb be guarded. They insisted the tomb be made as secure as possible. No one would come to steal the body claiming Jesus had risen. They made sure of that.

The Bible tells us that Jesus "descended into the lowermost parts of the earth."(Eph 4:9). Peter writes that Jesus "went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah."(I Pet 3:19). Even while his body was in the tomb, Jesus was at work seeking the lost. He went to offer salvation to those who died before he came. But Christ did not stay with those spirits in prison. He was not "abandoned to Hades." He rose from the dead.

Christ had made a clear promise. He foretold his death on the cross. But he went beyond the cross in his declaration of his purpose and work. He had said that he would rise again on the third day. This was the prophecy which worried the religious leaders. It was this prophecy that led them to have the guard placed at his tomb. They wanted to be sure Jesus would stay where they had put him. They wanted him to stay in the tomb.

As people travel about the world a common feature on many tours in a great leader's burial place. Visit Mt. Vernon, the home of President Washington, and you can visit his tomb. Go to Arlington Cemetery and you can visit the tomb of Kennedy. In Salt Lake City you can visit the tomb of the founder of the Mormon church. In Saudi Arabia you can visit the tomb of Mohammed. The Buddha, curiously enough, is buried in 8 different places, his body was divided up among the contenders to be his burial spot. Peter, who, we believe, is buried in Rome, said of King David, "I may say to you confidently of the Patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day." (Acts 2:29).

If you visit Jerusalem you can go to two separate tombs of Jesus. The reason it is hard to determine his exact tomb is simple. Neither tomb had a body in it. We can not say where Jesus was buried because he did not stay there. For us, this is good news. Had Jesus stayed in the tomb, we would have no reason for being together tonight. Paul simply put it this way, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." The resurrection is the confirmation of everything Jesus claimed for himself. On the cross he paid the penalty for our sins, but the assurance of that transaction is the resurrection. We could say of any dead person "He died for our sins." But how would we know it were true. It is only in the risen Lord that we have assurance that he indeed has power over sin and death. It is important to our whole faith, to our very standing before God that Jesus is risen.

Paul tells us of the many people who saw Jesus after his resurrection. He appeared to Peter. He appeared to the 12. At one time he appeared to a group of over 500 disciples. He appeared to his brother James and to other apostles. He also appeared to Paul himself. When Paul says, "Christ is risen," he is speaking not of something he was told by another. He is giving eyewitness testimony. But, if his readers are not ready to accept his witness, he tells of others, still alive, who also saw the risen Lord.

Jesus is Risen! This is the joyful message. Sometimes people may say that doctrine is not important. But this is doctrine. this is the teaching of the church from the first Easter Sunday until today. When Thomas heard the news, he was doubtful. He needed to see for himself. When Jesus appeared to him, then he believed. Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29. We must believe without seeing and yet in that faith is blessing. The good news is, "Christ has won the victory over sin and death. Even as we come to face our own deaths, we need not fear for Christ has gone before us. This is the good news. Christ is Risen! And he is not unique in his resurrection. As he is risen so also shall we be raised from the dead. As he lives, so we shall live forever with him. "Even death's cold wave I need not fear, since God through Jordan leadeth me."

Jesus is risen. In this he kept his word. He is trustworthy. When he promises eternal life to all who believe, we can trust that promise. When he promises forgiveness of sin through his death on the cross we can trust that promise. We say, "Where he leads me I will follow" because he leads us into life.